How to prune birchleaf spirea

Early spring before new growth emerges. Trim all stems back by roughly one-third in early spring, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. Deadhead spent flower clusters after summer bloom to tidy the plant. For a neglected, woody plant, cut back hard to 6 inches over two seasons rather than all at once.

Annually in early spring. Birchleaf Spirea (Spiraea betulifolia) is a compact, low-maintenance shrub that flowers on current-year wood. Light annual pruning in early spring — cutting back by about one-third — keeps it tidy and promotes fresh flowering stems. It does not require hard renovation pruning unless badly overgrown, but without any pruning it gradually becomes leggy.

Trim all stems back by roughly one-third in early spring, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. Deadhead spent flower clusters after summer bloom to tidy the plant. For a neglected, woody plant, cut back hard to 6 inches over two seasons rather than all at once.